Designation transmitter



3 Sheets-Sheet l H. M. BASCOM DESIGNATION TRANSMITTER Filed Aug. 31, 1937 Feb. 13, 1940.

A TTORNEY 5765- 1940- H. M. BAscoM DESIGNATION TRANSMITTER Filed Aug. 31. 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Has' /N l E N TOR H. MBASC'OM ATTORNEY Feb. 13,1940. BASCQM DESIGNATION TRANSMITTER Filed Aug. 31, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 M 0 C m5 m mM H AT TORNE Y Patented Feb. 13,1940 j y y 2,190,307.

entree stares earner treesms SIGNATION TRANSMITTER Henry M. Bascom, Brooklyn, N. Y.,v assignor to Bell fielephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation. of New York.

.Application August 31,1937, Serial Nb. 161,750

fi Claims. (01.179-90) This invention relates to designation transmit.- mitter of the characteraabove described includters and particularlyto those used in automatic ing a microphone for receiving the tones. protelephone systems. i i l duced by the vibrating-reeds and converting them The objects of theinvention are to reducethe into currents of. corresponding frequencies for efforts required by subscribers and operators in transmission over the telephone line, in which transmittingtelephone designations; to simplify the microphone is normally .short-circuited by the sending operations and the equipment re contact springs, and in whicheach tilting movequired "for transmitting such designations; .to ment. of the operating member serves to open minimize the time required for these operations; said springs to remove the short circuit from 1 and in general to improve the construction and said microphone. I a v p s operation of devices of this character. The foregoing and other features of the in- Numerous efforts have been made in the past vention wi1l be described more fully, in detailqin to simplify the operations involvedin transmitthe following specification and will also be set ting telephone numbers. In many of. these the fort t Claims pp wrotary impulse sending mechanism, so commonly In the drawings accompanying the specificaused in telephone practice, is replaced by structiO I 1 6 tures using keys and key operated levers. It has Fig.1 isan enlarged perspective View, with ceralso been proposed heretofore to transmit teletainparts broken away, of adesignation transphone. numbers by means of alternating currents itte c ud th fea es' f t inv n i 29 of different frequencies in lieu of the usual meth- Fig. 2 is a verti a Cross-Sectional View Of the 0d of transmitting series of direct current. imtransmitter of Fig. 1, s w ng details of th pulses. t'ernal construction; w l p In accordance with the present invention iin- Fig.3 isa horizontal cross-sectional view taken provements are obtained in transmitting devices along the line 3- -3.indiCatedinF g- 1 i by dispensing with rotating dials and providing Fig. 4 is a view similar to the one of Fig. 2, for the transmission of telephone designations by except t the Operating m be i illustrated means of currents of different characters, such n O e t Operative POSitiOIiS; as alternating currents of different frequencies. Fig. 5 is a top V ew, drawn on a reduced scal And a feature of the invention is a transmitter ustra ngli desi n t o chalfaliters;

comprising an operating member pivotally 618 p View-Showing the and 1 mounted and resiliently held in a normal posierating plate of the transmitter in its normal tion from which it may be tilted in any one of position, as seenin Fig. 2; 1 a

a number of directions when manual pressure is 1 Side'VieW, P y in ection, showin applied thereto by the operator, the tilting move the guide and operating plate of Fig. 6 one 35 ments of the operating member in the diilerent of its operative positions; and

directions causing the transmission of. currents. Fig 3 and 9 are-detailed P p c ve view sof representing the different parts of the wanted the vibratory reeds: and their associateddamp telephone designation. In the structure chosen ing members. l

to illustrate the invention the tilting movements In the specific embodiment chosen-herein for 40 of the operating member cause the selective illustrating theiinvention vibratory reeds'are ar- 40 plucking ofvibrating reeds, which in turn cause a ed singly andin p fS n BSIl CeSSiV-B desthe generation of electriccurrents of different ignation' select I O i S 0f e ransmitter, frequencies characterizing the telephone desigand. it may be assumed that these reeds when". nation to be transmitted. plucked produce sound waves of as manydifi-er- .45 Another feature of th i ti i t in ent frequencies'or'combinations of frequenciesas ter having an operating member pivoted for tiltthere are operative positions for the-device. It ing movement and carrying a seriesof designashould be understood, however, that the par tion marks on the surface thereof, and in which. ticular arrangement and combinations of thevithe operating member is provided with" radial bratory reeds illustrated and described may be '50 slots correspondingtothe several. designation modified Without departing' from the scope of marks 'and serving to guide the tiltedv operatin the invention, that various modifications of the member to insure that the reeds corresponding detailed construction and operation of the. detothe selected. designation mark will be plucked vice will also suggest themselves and will likewise to the. exclusion .of. allother reeds. come within the. scope of the invention.

3 Another ieatureof .dhe intention isa trans- Referring particularly .to the. drawings, the

movable and other cooperating parts of the transmitter are contained within the cup-shaped housing member I. The housing member i has a spherically-shaped upper portion 2 which serves as a guide and bearing surface for the operating member 3. The cup-shaped operating member 3 isinverted and supported by a semi-spherical stationary bearing member 4, which in turn is supported by brackets 5, 3 and 7. These brackets are secured to the bottom plate of the housing l, and the bearing member 5 is secured to the upper ends of the brackets by means of screws as seen in Fig. 2 and Fig. 4. The central portion of the operating member 3 is provided with a spherical inner surface which engages the spherical stationary support 4 to enable a universal tilting movement of the operating member 3. The lateral surface 8 of the operating member 3 has a spherical shape similar to that of the internal surface of the stationary part 2, these surfaces serving to guide the operating member 3 in its relative movement with respect to the stationary housing I.

The operating membe1 3 is maintained in its normal position, with the upper fiat surface thereof occupying a horizontal plane, by means of a resiliently-held cap 9. The cap 9 is secured to a pin it, which rests loosely in an opening extending vertically through the bearing member 4, and which is constantly urged in a downward direction by the restoring spring H. For this purpose the restoring spring H has a slot in the end thereof which engages the shoulder l2 on the lower end of the pin it. The outer periphery of the retaining cap 3 is provided with a series of detents which rest within corresponding slots in the upper surface of the operating member 3. In Fig. 2 two of these detents l9 and 23 are seen to be resting in their corresponding slots l3 and M. The other detents, which are not visible in Figs. 1 and 2, are likewise resting in their respective slots l5, it, ll, etc. The centralbearing portion of the operating member 3 has a circular opening I 8 therein, through which the pin ll] extends, and which is sufiicientin diameter to permit the operating member 3 to tilt to its fully operated position in any direction without interference from the pin Hi. The purpose of the detents on the retaining cap 9 is to prevent the operating member 3 from becoming displaced with respect to the stationary housing I by rotating in a horizontal plane either while the operating member 3 is in its normal position or while it is being tilted to any one of its operated positions. The retaining cap is held rigidly against any rotary movement in a horizontal plane by the pin It), which in turn is prevented from any rotary displacement by means of a set screw 2| in the stationary bearing member 4, the inner end of said set screw entering a vertical slot 22 in the side 'of the pin it. l/Vhen the operating member 3 is in its normal horizontal position all of the detents on the retaining cap 9 rest in their corresponding slots, and the member 3 is held firmly against any horizontal rotary displacement.

When the member 3 is tilted to one of its operated positions, as seen in Fig.4, it forces the cap 9 and the pin Hi to which the cap is secured upwardly against the tension of the restoring spring H. Since the cap 9 is maintained in a substantially horizontal position by the pin it when the member 3 is tilted, the slots on the low side of the member 3 become disengaged from their detents, but at least one of the detents,

such as the detent 20 on the high side of the operating member 3, remains in engagement with its associated slot to prevent any inadvertent horizontal displacement of the member 3 with respect to the stationary housing of the transmitter. Vertical movement of the pin l0 Within the bearing member 4 is permitted by the slot 22, but the screw 2| holds the pin in against any rotary displacement.

The vibratory reeds which produce the tones of different frequencies when the operating member 3 is tilted are mounted on the reed supporting table 23, which in turn is supported by a post 24,

I terminating in a pedestal 25, secured to the bottom plate of the housing member I by screws 26 and 2'1. flanged upwardly at a suitable angle, and the vibratory reed units are secured at spaced intervals around this fianged periphery. Some of these units, such as the one shown in Fig. 8, consist each of a single vibratory spring 28, a damper spring 29 and a damper 30, of some non-vibratory material, which normally engages the reed 28. Other ones of these reed units, such as the one illustrated in Fig. 9, have two vibratory reeds each, 3i .and 32, a damper spring 33 and a damper 34 which normally engages both reeds 3| and 32. The reed units are secured by screws 35, 36, etc., to the supporting table 23 as seen in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and '7. There are ten of these units spaced around the periphery of the table 23 in positions which correspond to designation markings on the upper surface of the transmitter.

The vibratory reeds, which are mounted as above explained around the periphery of the supporting table 23, are plucked by means of a circular series of pins located on the upper surface of the operating plate 31. The plate 31 is rigidly secured to the inner surface of the operating member 3 by means of the brackets 38, 39 and 40. The said pins are located in the plate 31 in such a manner that the movement of the operating member 3 in a direction corresponding to a particular designation causes the plucking of the reeds representing such designation to the exclusion of all other reeds. The relative locations of .the vibratory reeds and of the pins which pluck these reeds are illustrated best in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The operating plate 31 is provided with a series of radial notches 4|, 42, 43, etc., there being one of these notches for each of the ten operative positions of the device. When the operating member 3 and the attached operating plate 3'! are in their normal positions, the radial notches in the plate 31 occupy the positions shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6 relative to the post 24. When, however, the member 3- and the plate 31 are advanced to an operative position, the teeth defining the corresponding radial slot in the plate 31 embrace the post 24, which serves as a guide to insure the correct movement of the plucking pins with respect to the vibratory reeds. This guiding function of the radial slots and the stationary guide post '24 insures that only the pin or pins which correspond to the operated position of the device will pluck their associated reeds and that none of the adjacent pins will be effective in plucking its associated reed.

The tones produced by the vibrating reeds are detected by a microphone button 44 which is mountedon the upper surface of the table 23. The table 23 is provided with a series of openings 45, 46, ,41, etc., to permit the sound waves to pass freely to the microphone 44. The electrical terminals of the microphone are extended The outer periphery of the table 23 is' iii) to the exterior of the-instrument by conductors 48 and 45. The terminals of the microphone 44 are normally short-circuited by the closedcontact springs 59 and These springs are insulated from each other and mounted on the bracket I together with the retaining spring ll. Whenever theoperating member 3 is tilted to pluck the vibratory reeds, the upward movement of the pin Ill flexes the retaining spring H upwardly, and the insulating post 52 engages the spring 5| and separates it from the spring 50. This opens the short circuit around the terminals of the microphone 44 and renders the microphoneeffective to translate the sound waves that are produced at this time by the plucked reeds.

The person operating the designation transmitter is'guided by means of a designation plate 53 secured to the upper horizontal surface of the operating member 3. The plate 53 is provided with a series of ten circular depressions containing the usual designation numerals and letters and such other designation characters as may be desirable. These designation markings are arranged to correspond with the location of the vibratory reedsv and the associated plucking pins within the device. The designation strip is illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

The operation of the designation transmitter will now be described. For this purpose assume that the calling party wishes to call a line the directory designation of whichis ME-2345. To send the first designation character M, he selects the depression 55 containing this character and presses the operating member 3 downat that point. The operating member 3 tilts in response to the pressure and assumes the position illustrated in Figsra and 'l. ment of the operating member 3 in any direction is limited by the engagement of the lower rim of the member 3 withthe annularshoulder i3 formed in the wall of the housing member I. As the tilting action takes place the pins 56 and 51, which lie on the opposite end of the diameter including the designation depression 55, move against and then beyond the associated reeds 3| and 32, setting these reeds in vibration. As the operating member assumes its fully operated position the plate 31, which tilts therewith, engages the damping spring 33 and flexes it to withdraw the damper 34 from contact with the reeds 3| and 32, leaving them free to vibrate. position of the plate 31 the pins 56 and 51 occupy the positions illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 6, and also shown in Fig. '7, where they do not interfere with the vibration of the reeds 3| and 32. Since all other pins on the plate 31 move in directions parallel to the movement of pins 56 and 51, they do not pluck their associated reeds. All pins on the left side of the vertical diameteras viewed in Fig. 6 move directly away from theirreeds'and do not of course interfere with them. .The pins58 and 59 move in the direction of the arrows I and, therefore, clear their associated reeds B0 and BI by wide margins, The other two sets of pins 62, 63 and 64, 65 also move in the direction of the arrows indicated in the drawings and, therefore, pass their associated reeds without plucking them. The direction of the movement of the pins is accurately defined by the stationary guide post 24, which is embraced by the slot 42 soon after the tilting movement of the plate 3'! begins.

The vibrating reeds 3| and 32 produce sounds of the two corresponding frequencies, and these sound waves excite the microphone 44, which is The downward move-' In this 7 the registration of a record'identifying the des.

ignation character M. i

When the calling party releases the operating member .3, the restoring spring H, acting on the pin it and cap 9, rotates the operating memher, 3 back to its normal horizontal position. This causes the return ofthe damper .34 into contact with the vibrating reeds 3|. and 32,. and these reeds cease to produce sound waves.

Next the calling party selects the designation opening 64 containing the desired character E and depresses the operating member 3 at that point. This time the pin 65 sets in vibration the single reed (i6, and a sound of corresponding frequency energizes the transmitter 44 to cause the transmission over the line of an alternating current of like frequency. In a similar manner thecalling party tilts the operating member 3 to transmit currents representing the numerical characters .2, 3, 4 and 5, which occur respectively in the designation openings 61, 64, 68 and 69. From an inspection of Fig. 6 it will be seen that these four manipulations of the operating member 3 cause the plucking .of reed 10 for the digit 2, the plucking of reed 66 for the digit 3,

1. A designation transmitter comprising a stationary cup-shaped housing member, a universal bearing secured to said housing member, an

, inverted cup-shaped operating member mounted on said bearing for universal movement within said housing member, and means actuated by the movement of said operating member for producing currents characterizing designations.

for universal tilting movements, resilient means for retaining said operating member in its normal position on said bearing member, vibratory' elements for producing sound representative of telephone designations, and a spherical shaped 'member secured to said operating member and actuated by the tilting movements thereof for selectively plucking said vibratory elements.

4. The combination in a designation transmitter of a circular operating member, a bearing member supporting said operating member for universal tilting movements, resilient means for retaining said operating member in its normalposition on said bearing member, vibratory elements for producing sounds representative of telephone designations, a spherical shaped member responsive to the tilting movements of said operating member for selectively plucking said vibratory elements, said spherical shaped member having radial slots therein, and a stationary guide post coacting with said slots to guide said operating member in its tilting movements.

5. The combination in a designation transmitter of an operating member, a spherical shaped bearing member supporting said operating member for universal tilting movements, a resilient means for retaining said operating member in its normal position on said bearing member, vibrating members for producing sounds representative of telephone designations, and means actuated by the tilting movement of said operating member for selectively operating said vibrating members.

6. The combination in a designation transmitter of a cup-shaped housing member, a universal bearing support secured to said housing member, an inverted cup-shaped operating member mounted on said bearing for tilting move ment in any of a plurality of directions, vibratory elements mounted within said housing member and actuated in response to the tilting movement of said operating member to produce sound tones of different frequencies, a transmitter mounted within said housing member for receiving said sound tones and for converting them into electric currents of corresponding frequencies, a set of circuit-making contacts for controlling the effectiveness of said transmitter, and a contact operating element passing through said bearing support and movable in response to the movement of said operating member in any direction to actuate said circuit contacts.

HENRY M. BASCOM. 

